Type-writing machine.



A. I. BHIGGS,

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLlcAloN FILED AuG.28. 191s.

Patented Aug. IS, 1918.

3 SIIEETS--SHEET l.

H15 ATTURNEY .JLM/LM W ulllmm/l IIIIII I 5 E E 5 E N H W A.1. BRIGGS.

TYPE WHHING MACHINE.

.APPLICATION m50 AUG.2H,19|G.

lutvntvd Aug. 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Aug. (i, 1918.

A. I. BRIGGS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Amma. IsIIs.

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HIEI ATTIJRNEY WI TNEEIEE 5 of Mm @VM/Mx SATES ATTENTE OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. BRIGGS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON TYPEWRITER COMPNY, 0F ILION, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application led August 28, 1916.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. Brunes, citizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- VVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to typewriting machines and more particularly to the ink ribbon mechanism of such machines. Said mechanism is shown in the present. instance incorporated in a typewriting machine which considered as a whole has combined therein in an unusual degree the characteristics of merit and low cost of manufacture, and it is the principal object of the present. invention to produce ribbon mechanism having these characteristics.

T0 the abOVe and other ends which will hereinafter appear my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all of which will be fully set forth herein and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front to rear vertical sectional view, on an irregularI section, of as much of the complete machine as is necessary to illustrate the embodiment therein of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to part of Fig. l but with the section taken farther toward the right-hand side of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of that part of the ribbon feeding mechanism which is located in the hase of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a Side elevation of one of the spools and the means for driving it, part of the driving mechanism being shown in vertical section.

Fig. G is a front elevation of the vibrator and some of its associated parts.

F ig.. T is a plan view of thc vibrator, the universal bar and associated parts.

,ln all of the figures of the drawing parts have been shown in section or broken away and parts have been omitted as has been found convenient.

lt, will be understood that the present in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 191s.

Serial No. 117,258.

vention is capable of embodiment in whole or in part, in machines differing in many respects from that shown in the drawings.`

The main frame of the machine illustrated comprises a casing havin a base portion 1, surmounted by a vertica flange or wall 2, which extends around three sides of a rectanglel and a short distance across the back of the machine at each side; and said frame also comprises rightand left-hand top plates 3.

Said 'frame also includes a lnain casting comprising a carriage rail 4 and a typo bar segment Said casting also comprises two vertical side posts (3 and a cross bar 7 in the base of thc machine, where Said casting is fastened to the base 1 by means of screws 8. The frame also comprises a cross bar 10, said bar consisting of a separate casting suitably secured in the base 1. The type action comprises printing keys 11 mounted on the forward ends of key levers 1Q which are pivoted on a wire 13 seated in the cross bar 7, which bar is slotted along its under edge to guide the key levers. Each of the key levers has a depending arm 14 to which is connected a restoringspring 15 and all of said springs are secured to a channel bar 16 in the base of the machine. A series of sublevers 17 of bell-crank form are guided in slots in the cross bar 10 and pivoted on a pivot lwire or rod 18. Each of said bellcranks has a forwardly extending arm carrying a headed pin Q0 which plays in a slot 21 in the forward part of al` key lever 1Q. Each of said sublevers is connected by a link 22 with a front-strike type bar Q3 carrying a type 24. Said type bars are pivoted on a. wire Q5 suitably laid in the type bar segment 5, the forward face of which is slotted to guide the type bars. The types 24 are adapted to strike against the front face of a platen QG which is mounted in a car riage 27 having the form shown in Figs. l and il, that is to say, it has two grooved rails for the accommodation of anti-friction balls 2S, onc of said rails being horizontally in front of the other. The rail 4 has its forward face grooved to match the forward rail of the carriage and a grooved rail 30 is secured to the rear face of the bar l to cooperate with the'rear ball or balls Q8. The

rail 30, as here shown, is made of sheet metal with sufficient resiliency to obviate the necessity of any relative adjustment of the several carriage rails.

The carriage is propelled toward the left by means of a cord running over a spring drum 31.

The type bars when in normal position rest against a stationary pad 32.

The carriage has a feed rack 33, F ig.v 1, meshing with a feed pinion 34, which 1s rigidly connected with an escapement wheel 35, said wheel and pinion being mounted on a shaft 36, suitably journaled 1n the part 4 of the main casting.

The universal bar 37 is of segmental form and lies just above and within the type bar segment 5 being adapted to be moved toward the rear at each operation of a printing key by means of a attened part 38 on each of the type bars 23. The universal bar is supported by a forward projection of a plate or frame 40 of sheet metal lying horizontally underneath the carriage rail 4, and having ears` 41 bent up therefrom near itsforward part, one at the right and the other at the left-hand edge of said plate. The said ears 41 are pivoted at 42 to arms 43 of a yoke or bail whichalso comprises a cross bar 44 connecting the two arms 43. Said bail is pivoted on a rod 45, which rod passes through the arms 43 and also through the upright parts of a sheet metal bracket 46, which bracket is secured by screws 47 to the under side of the rail 4. The bracket 46 comprises a horizontal part disposed below the plate 40 and at its right and left-hand sides it is bent upward vertically and thence horizontally, forming ears 48 through which the screws 47 pass. The horizontal part of the bracket 46 has a rearward extension from which ears 50 are bent upward and through said ears there passes a pivot rod 51, which rod also passes through the arms 52 and of a bail which bail also comprises a cross bar 54. The arm 53 of said bail is prolonged upward and is'pivoted at 55 to an ear 56 bent upward from the plate 40. The construction is such that said plate 40 is pivoted at three points in such fashion that the universal bar 37 is guided accurately for equal and parallel motion of all of its parts. In the present instance the ear 56 constitutes one of the dogs of the escapement, said dog coming into engagement with the wheel 35 when the universal bar is moved toward the rear of the machine. The other dog 57 of said escapenient consists of an ear bent olf from a lever 58 which is pivoted at 6() to an ear 61, Fig. 7, bent up from the rear end of the plate 40, said ear 61 standing in a transverse vertical plane.

The dog 57, 58 is controlled by a wire spring 62. Figs. l and 3, which holds it in the wheel 35 but with freedom to act like a bracket.

pawl when the carriage is pulled back toward the right, the motion of the dog under the impulse of said spring being limited by an extension 63 of the ear 56.

As best shown in Fig. 7 the ear 61 has a branch 64 bent off therefrom to which is connected the rear end of a spring 65, the forward end of which is connected to an arm 6 6 bent off from the bracket 46, said spring 65 constituting the restoring spring for the universal bar and its connected parts.

The cross bar 54 of the bail 52, 53, 54 is prolonged toward the rear forming a lever arm 67, Figs. 1 and 7, and said arm has an ear 68 bent up therefrom into a fore and aft vertical plane. rlhe ribbon vibrator 70 has its stem pivoted to said ear on a pin 69, the ear passing through a slot in said stem and the lower end of the stem being wrapped around the pin as shown. Said stem passes upward through a hole 79, Fig. 7, in the plate 40. The vibrator at its upper end has any suitable guides 71 for guiding the ink' ribbon 72. vAs here shown the entire vibrator consists of a single piece of sheet metal. The vibrator is guided by a bracket 73 secured to the front face of the rail 4 by means of screws 74. The vibrator stem extends from the pin 7l upward and toward the front of the machine, and it is thence bent vertically upward passing through a hole 75 in the bracket 73 whereby the upper end of the vibrator is in the rear of the upper end of the Said bracket at its upper part has an opening 76 with vertical walls 77 and near rthe lower part thereof widened out by notches 78. The vibrator at its upper end is formed with right and left-hand branches and from each of these an ear is bent first toward the front of the machine and then outward, said ears engaging the ed es 77 of the opening 76 in the guide brac (et whereby the upper end of the vibrator is guided in its up and down motion. The construction is such that the vibrator can be disconnected from the bracket by a relative motion between the two whereby the ears 80 can pass through the notches 78 in the opening 77. `When the parts are in assembled condition these ears never reach Said notches or widened parts of said opening.

-The guide bracket 73, above the opening 76, is formed with a cross bar 81, and above said cross bar two ears 82 are bent toward the rear of the niachine to constitute a guide for the types 24. This whole bracket is stamped out of a single piece of sheet metal sufficiently heavy to answer its pur oses of guiding the ribbon vibrator and ofconstituting a' type guide.

lt will be perceived that whenever one of the printing keys is operated and the universal bar 37 is moved toward the rear of the machine, thc arin will be moved toward the rear,- and the arm 67 will be moved upward, and the ribbon vibrator 70 will be moved upward to carry the ribbon 72 to printing position, and that when the type bar moves back to normal position the vibrator will drop back to normal position partly by its own weight and partly impelled by the spring 65. In the present instance I have preferred to give a short stroke to the vibrator so that the ribbon is used on the u per half thereof. The lower half of the rib on can be utilized by turning the spools over as will hereinafter appear.

The ribbon is wound on spools 83 mounted on 11p-standing shafts 84, one at each side of the machine. In the present instance, each of said shafts stands at an inclination upward and toward the front of the machine. Each of said shafts is journaled in a suitable opening in one of the top plates 3, and at its lower end in a bracket 85 consisting of a piece of sheet metal secured by means of a screw 87 to a lug 86 of the main casting. The shaft is reduced where it passes through the bracket 85, thus forming a shoulder which prevents lengthwise motion of the shaft downward, and lengthwise motion of said shaft upward is prevented by a Cotter-pin 88 passed through the shaft below the bracket 85. A short distance 4above said bracket the shaft 84 has fixed thereon a fine-toothed ratchet wheel 90, which is engaged by the tooth 91 of a driving pawl 92 and also by the tooth 93 of a retaining pawl 94.

The drivin pawl 92 is pivoted at 95 on a longitudina ly reciprocating bar or link 96, which at its forward end is formed with a slot 97, through which passes the enlarged part of a shouldered and headed screw 98, which is threaded into the bracket 85. The screw 98 passes not only through the slot 97 in the slide bar 96 but it also passes through a round hole in the retaining pawl 94 and constitutes the means whereby said retaining pawl is pivoted to the bracket 85. The pawl 92 has an arm 100 and the pawl 94 an armi-101, and said arms are connected by a light contractile spring 102, which spring tends'to turn both pawls about their pivots into engagement with the wheel, and it also tends to pull the pawl 92 and link 96 toward the front of the machine. Each of the pawls has a tail or lu 103 extending downward therefrom into the plane of the bar 96 and these tails or lugs limit the turning motion of the paWls under the impulse of the spring 102. The construction is such that by moving the forward end of the link 96 transversely of the machine toward the wheel 90 the two pawls will be caused to engage said wheel but if the rear end of the link 96 be moved toward the middle of the machine the pawls will be moved by the lugs 108 out of engagement with the wheel. In Fig. 4 the two pawls at the right-hand side of the figure are shown in engagement while the two pawls at the left-hand side of the figure are shown out of engagement so that the feed of the ribbon is on to the spool at the observers right in Fig. 4. By moving the two links 96 toward the observers left the feed of the ribbon will ooviously be reversed. In this reversing operation the links turn about the screws 98 as pivots.

Each of the links 96 is at its rear end pivoted at 104 to an ear 105 bent toward the front of the machine from the upper end of an arm 106, Fig. 3, projecting upward from a long rocking bar 107. The pivots 104 consist of pins projecting from ears bent. downward from the links 96 and each of said links is detachably held in place by means of a spring arm 108 riveted to the link 96 and engaging over the end of the pivot 104 as shown in Fig. 4. The link can be readily detached from the ear 105 by springing the retaining device 108 away from the ear 105.

The bar 107, as here shown, is made of sheet metal bent to forni an angle-bar, the arms 106 and other parts thereof being made integral. Said bar *extends the greater part of the way across the back of the machine. At each end thereof it has an ear 110 bent up therefrom and into said ear is screwed or otherwise secured in place a pivot pin 111 which passes through and is journaled in an arm or ear 112 bent down from the sheet metal bracket 85. The construction is similar at both sides of the machine and is such that the bar 107 and the various arts therewith connected can be rocked a out the pins 111 as pivots. The ears 110 are spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the distance between the ears 112, with the result that the bar 107 can be slid endwise a limited distance. The pins 111 are prolonged and they pass through suitable openings in the base part 1 of the main casing, projecting far enough so that the bar 107 can be pushed endwise by pressing against the end of one of these pms. In Fig. 4 the bar occupies its right-hand position with the right-hand pin 111 projecting bevond the framework or casing, and the left-hand pin 111 about flush with said Casing, and in this position, as was said above, the mechanism is set to feed the right-hand one of the ribbons, that is to say, the one at the observers right. The feed can be reversed by pushing in the projecting pin 111 as will be understood.

In order lto retain the bar 107 in either of its two positions, said bar, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is formed with two notches 113 which are engaged by a V-shaped fiat spring 114 which is riveted at 115 to a branch 116 of one of the brackets 85. The spring dog 114 has suiiicient tension to presb Lamers vent accidental displacement of the bar 107 lengthwise, but it will yield to pressure on the pin 111.

In order to rock the bar 107 at each actuation of the universal bar 37, said bar has an arm 117 projecting upward therefrom through a slot 118 in the universal bar plate 40 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and-7. The arm 117 is of sheetmetal and the slot 118 is of such length as to permit of the right and left-hand motion of the bar 107 in the act ot' reversing the ribbon feed. The Whole construction is such that Whenever the universal bar is moved towardthe rear of the machine the arms 106 and links 96 both move toward the rear of the machine and when the universal bar returns to normal position said links move toward the front of the machine. The reciprocatory motion of the link 9G is shared by the pawl 92 but not by the paivl 94, so that the lirst acts as a driving pawl and the other as a retaining pa'wl on 'that one of the two Wheels 90 that is engaged by its pawls.

The above description applies in every respect to 'both sides of the machineexcept that only one of thc brackets 85 has the dog 111t mounted on it, and except further that the arm 10G at the observers right in Fig.V

i is nearer to the middle of the machine than the one at the left, and the bar 96 is off-set accordingly, this being due to the presence on that side of the machine of the spring drum 31. The arm 117 .is here shown made up of two iieces of sheet metal welded together, one of them being integral With the bar 107, and the other being an extension welded to it; but this construction is not essential, as the Whole arm can consist of an integral branch ot' the bar 107. The construction actually shown economizes material in the original blanking out of the bar 107 from sheet stock.

The machine is equipped with a space key or bar 120 mounted on brackets l121 rising from the cross bar 122 of a U-shaped frame which frame also comprises long levers 123 extending to the rear the machine. Each of these levers` is formed at about its .middle with a downward extension 121 which is pivotcd on the saine rod 18 as the sublevers 17. Each of the levers 123 at its rear end has projecting therefrom toward the middle of the machine a pin 125 which lies just beyond an inclined arm 120 bent down from the angie-bar 107. The construction is such that when the key 120 is depressed the pins 125 move upward and move the arms 126 toward the front of the machine thus operating the bar 107 in the same Way as said bar is operated bv the universal bar 37. ln this instance, however, the motion of the bar 107 is communicated to the universal bar plate 40 and results in the operation of the carriage escapement and incidentally in idle operation of the ribbon vibrator and ribbon feed. The pins 125 are made of a length sufficient to permit of the longitudinal motion ofthe bar 107, afbove described. The levers 123 are provided with restoring springs 127.

Each of the ribbon spool shafts 84 has a collar 130 mounted thereon to arrest the spool 83 when the latter is set on fthe shaft. In the present instance' this collar is shown of cup-shape, being drawn up out of sheet metal and of such internal diameter as to have a force-tit on the shaft. Just above the upper flange of the spool thes'haft is formed with a coni-cal part. 131 and a short reduced threaded art 132. A thumb nut 133 is formed with an internal conical part and with a threaded opening so that said nut can be screwed down on the end of the shaft, the conical end of which facilitates the placing ofthe spool on the shaft.

The end of the shaft 84. at least as far down as the collar 131, has a longitudinal. groove 131 formed therein and one or both of the flanges of the spool has a lug 135 projectinn into the otherwise circular opening in said iange into which opening said shaft passes. The construction is such that When the nut 133 is removed the spool can be put on to and taken off of the shaft and it can be put on either side up. Wien the ool has ybeen placed on the shaft the nut 133 is screwed down to prevent displacement of said spool. It will be perceived that When the ribbon has been used along one longitu` dinal half thereof the spools can be re moved and reversed, the spool on the'righthand shaft being placed on the left-hand shaft and vice versa, each spool being turned the other side up in this interchange of position.

The spool as here shown is of extremely inexpensive construction consisting of two circular flanges and of a middle strip 136 bent into circular form and constituting the drum of the spool. This piece 136 is of a length somewhat less than the circumference of said drum so that an opening v137 is left between the two ends of the strip, and one end of said stri is formed with points 138 to which the rib on can be readily attached. The strip or drum 136 is formed with ears 140 projecting through suitable openings in the flanges of the spool and bent over as shown in Fig. 5 to hold the twoparts of the spool together. This spool is of such inexpensive construction that the ribbon can be sold on the spool.

The ymain frame of the machine shown and described herein has features of novelty which are set forth and claimed in mv companion application for Letters` atent, Serial No. 117,261, filed Aug. 28, 1916.

Whereas I have described in detail the construction shown in the drawings it will of course be understood that various changes can be made in such details without departing from my invention and some of the features of the invention can be used without others.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with the type bars, and a universal bar operated thereby, of a plate or framev constituting the support of said universal bar; three-point guiding means for said supporting frame, said guiding means at one of said polnts consisting of an arm of a lever; and a ribbon vibrator operated by said lever.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combina-r tion with the type bars, and a universal bar operated thereby, of a plateor frame constituting the support of said universal bar, three-point guiding means for said supporting frame, said guiding means at one of said points consisting of an arm of a bell-crank; and a ribbon vibrator mounted on another arm of said bell-crank.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combina- .tion with the type bars, and a universal bar operated thereby, of a plate or frame constituting the support ot said universal bar; three-point guiding means for said supporting frame, said guiding means at one ot said points consisting of an arm of a bell-crank which is pivoted below said supporting frame; and a ribbon vibrator having a stem pivoted to another arm of said bell-crank and said stem extending upward through said frame.

4f. In a typewriting machine, the combination with the type bars and a universal bar operated thereby, of a plat/e or frame to which said universal bar is secured, a pivoted bail pivoted to said plate or trame and constituting part of the guiding means therefor, said bail having an arm, and a ribbon vibrator operated by said arm.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pair of ratchet Wheels, a rocking bar, links each connected at one end with said rocking bar and at the other end having a guide, driving pavvls for said ratchet wheels mounted on said links, means for moving said rocking bar endwise whereby each of said links is moved at one end transversely of its length to move one of said pawls into and the other out of engagement with said ratchet wheels, and ribbon spools operated by said ratchet wheels.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pair of ratchet Wheels, a transverse rocking bar, a pair of links each connected at one end with said rocking bar and guided at the other end, driving pawls for said ratchet wheels mount-ed on said links, means for rocking said bar, means for moving said bar endwise tomove one of said driving pawls into and the other out of engagement with its ratchet wheel, retaining pawls for said ratchet wheels also moved into and out of engagement by endwise motion Vof said bnr, and ribbon spools driven by said ratchet wheels.

7. In a front strike typewriting machine, the combination of a pair of ribbon spools, upstanding shafts for said ribbon spools, ratchet wheels on said shafts, links adjacent said ratchet wheels, driving pawls for said ratchet wheels mounted on said links, a rocking and endwise movable bar for operating said links, means whereby said pawls partake of the endwise motion of said bar to move one of them into and the other out of engagement. with its ratchet Wheel, a retaining pawl for each of said ratchet wheels, pivots for said retaining pawls, said pivots acting also as guides for said links, and means whereby said retaining pawls also partake of the endwise motion of said bar.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with front strike type bars, and a universal bar operated thereby, of ribbon spools, upstanding shafts on which said spools are mounted, ratchet wheels on said shafts in the lower part of the machine, a transverse rocking and endwise movable bar in the base of the machine, pivoted links operated b v said bar, driving pawls for said ratchet wheels on saidlinks, means whereby said links partake of the endwise motion of said bar and move one of said pawls into and the other out of engagement with its ratchet wheel, a pin andslot connection between said rocking bar and said universal bar whereby the former is operated by the latter and whereby said rock'ing and endwise movable bar is enabled to move endwise without disturbing its operative relation to said universal bar.

9. In a front strike typewriting machine, the combination of a pair of ribbon spools, upstanding shafts on which said spools are mounted` stationary brackets in the lower part ot' the machine in which said shafts are Iiournaled, a rocking and endwise movable bar, links cach pivoted at one end to said bar and at the other end guided on one ot said brackets, means for rocking said bar, means whereby said links operate said ratchets and means whereby the endwise motion of said bar moves said operating means into engagement with one of said ratchets and out of engagement with the other of said ratchets.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon spool and a ratchet wheel for driving the same, of a link, means for reciprocating said link endwise, a driving pawl mounted on said link, a retaining pawl for the ratchet wheel lying on said link, and a device passing through said paivl and through a guide slot in Said link and Serving as a pivot for said retaining pawl and as a guide for said link.

11. ln a typewriting' machine, the combination of a ribbon spool and a ratchet wheel for driving the same, of a link, means for reciprocating said lilik endwise, a driving pawl mounted on said link, a retaining pawl. a pivot for said retainingr pawl, said pivot passing also through a guide slot in said link, and a single spring connected to arms of the two said pawls.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon spool and a ratchet wheel for driving' the Same, ot a link. means for reciprocating Said link endwise, a drivingF pawl mounted on said link, a retaining pawl, a pivotA for said retaining pawl. said pivot passing also through a guide slot in said link, a single Springr connected to arms of the two said pawls, each of said pawls havingr a lug adapted, to engage. a side of Said link, and means for moving said link transverselyv to move said pawls into and out of engagement with said wheel.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon Spool. a ratchet wheel t'or turning the Same. a fixed bracket, a slide or link thereon, a driving pawl pivoted to said slide or link, a retaining pawl supported b v Said bracket. and means4 for reciprocating Said Slide or link.

14. In a typewriting machine. the combination of a ribbon spool. a ratchet wheel tor turning the same` a lixed bracket. a slide or link thereon. a drivingv paw] pivoted to said slide or link. a retainii'ner paw] :supported by said bracket, means for reciprocating said slide or link. and means for shitting said slide or link laterally and thereby moving said pawls into and out. ot' engage ment with said ratchet.

15. In a typewriting machine. the combination of a ribbon spool, a ratchet wheel for turning the same, a fixed bracket, a slide or link slidably and pivotally connected with said bracket and carrying a driving pawl. a retainingP paWl supported by Said bracket` means for sliding Said link to operate Said ratchet Wheel, and means for turning Said link about its connection with said bracket and thereby moving said pawls into and out of engagement with said Wheel.

Signed at Syracuse, in the county daga and State of New York, this of August, D. 1916.

ARTHUR- J. BRGGS.

ot' @noir 24th da y Witnesses AUGUSTUS J. BARNES, FRANK S. LEWIS. 

